New Northumberland College in Ashington will be England’s greenest

NET zero and sustainability are at the heart of a planning application submitted by Northumberland College for a major new campus in Ashington town centre.

The new campus will provide state-of-the-art academic and technical facilities aligned to industry and regional skills priorities, bringing significant economic and educational benefits for the county of Northumberland and beyond.

But the move is also being used to pioneer ambitious efforts to decarbonise organisations and buildings and point the way forward to a greener more sustainable future.

The campus, to be built on a 5.7-acre site on the eastern edge of Wansbeck Business Park in Ashington, would be one of a new generation of educational buildings developed by the Department of Further Education (DfE) with net zero and sustainability at the centre of its build and operation.

Plans for the hourglass-shaped site include three buildings incorporating structural designs to enhance
sustainability, optimise renewable technologies, meet the challenges of climate change, connect with
nature and are designed for health, well-being and the environment.

Innovating in its design, the new college will house a range of industry-standard facilities.

A dedicated Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering and Construction Skills Centre will be a centre of excellence in electrical, mechanical, robotics and automation, automotive, green transport, construction, housing, retrofit and wider renewable technologies.
A further building will include academic and technical facilities with curriculum spanning hospital, health,
education and childcare, business, tourism, digital and employability. The campus will also incorporate a
bespoke new centre for young people with special educational needs and disability.
Wider facilities will include dedicated centre with catering and dining facilities, a learning and skills centre,
an impressive lecture theatre, careers and welfare services, specialist labs, workshops and immersive
learning environments.
The campus will be built using biophilic principles, a concept used within the construction sector to
increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment.

At the new Ashington Campus, these principles will lead to:
* Play and adventure: Meaningful and accessible external spaces to improve students’ physical
activity.
* Sensory: Elements that allow sensory experiences through touch, sound and smell.
* Sanctuary: A space for students to reflect and find inspiration.
* Learning Landscapes: Spaces to learn in, spaces to learn from about natural processes.
* Natural World: Element for college students and staff to experience nature and biodiversity.
* Connecting with nature: Through views, contemplation and actively experiencing semi-natural
environments.
* Materials: The use and combination of materials to enrich the environment and create a distinctive
sense of place.

Ellen Thinnesen, chief executive of Education Partnership North East, said: “Since Northumberland College joined our group, we have been determined to invest in Ashington and to play into the region’s skills and NetZero ambitions.

“This Gen Zero model takes our ambitions to the next level.

“Our new Ashington Campus won’t just be an inspirational environment where our students can learn and
our staff can work, it will also play an important role in our nation’s NetZero ambitions and the
Government’s prioritisation of further education and skills aligned to local, regional and UK economy.
To reduce its carbon footprint, innovative, sustainable designs and materials along with modern methods
of construction will mean the college campus will largely be built and manufactured off-site before being
assembled in Ashington.
External spaces will be just as important as the college’s new internal spaces, with the landscape
surrounding the buildings incorporating planting strategies (which will act as solar screening) and rain
gardens, while pathways will be made of carefully chosen sustainable materials.
Leading UK construction company Bowmer+Kirkland has been appointed as design and build contractor with Bond Bryan providing their architectural service.